I made a couple of these small arrangements for a brunch for the Delta Gamma Alumni. I used rustic tin buckets as the vase, then filled it with coral roses and pomegranates. To get the pomegranates to stay in place, I used forks!

At almost every Holiday Party that I cater, the centerpiece of the food display has been a beautiful Beef Tenderloin. It is the perfect thing to serve for the holidays - it is a special treat and it is very easy to do for a crowd.

When buying for large crowds, I always turn to Costco. Their beef tenderloins sell at $9-10 per pound (un-trimmed) and $15 per pound (trimmed) and typically weigh 5-8 pounds each. For portions, I figure .6 pounds per person. So, a 6 pound tenderloin is plenty for 10 guests... amounting to $6 per person for a fabulous dinner.

To prepare, I coat each beef (2 pictured) with olive oil, and generously salt & pepper. Roast on a baking sheet at 500 degrees (make sure your oven is clean!) for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes. Then slice.

December 07, 2009

I've been making this same recipes with my mom and sister for 27 years. We always made dozens of cookies to give away to friends and family... And a couple very elaborate ones we saved for Santa.

I copied this recipe from my Mom's Better Homes & Gardens cookbook into my journal of recipes I started 5 years ago... Other things in the journal include creme brûlée, Outrageous Brownies, and Beef Tenderloin.